The Most Expensive Video Games

Video games have evolved dramatically since the days of Atari and once family favorites like Asteroids. Today, the video game market overflows with challenging game mechanics and stunning visual graphics. In fact, it’s because of their amazing storylines and captivating visuals that many video games are responsible for students’ loss of sleep. Today, video games can whisk players into a totally new world…while suddenly it’s 2 a.m. in the real world. Many students have sacrificed sleep to get just a bit further in a really good video game! Developing video games can cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Curious about the most expensive video games ever created and sold?

Check out this list to learn about the most expensive video games ever developed, ever sold, and ever made.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

This sequel, developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision, came in at 250 million dollars when it was released in 2009. Almost a decade later, factoring in inflation, the total cost of this game would be 279 million dollars! Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 earned back all the investment as it quickly rose as one of gamers’ favorite games. It was released on three platforms including PC, PS2, Xbox 360. Although released in 2009, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 continues to hold the title as one of the most expensive video games ever developed.

Grand Theft Auto V

This series of video games keep getting better…and more expensive. Released in 2013, the team behind this franchise are the developers Rockstar North. Rockstar Games are responsible as the publisher for this high adrenaline racing game. The total cost for Grand Theft Auto V came in at 265 million for 2013; adjusted today with inflation, the game would be one of the second most expensive video games ever developed. Part of the expensive development costs are due to the many platforms that support this game; Grand Theft Auto V runs on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. Any guesses on how the sixth installment would rank among the most expensive video games ever produced?

Final Fantasy VII

This amazing epic adventure made it as one of the most expensive video games back in 1997. It was released to critical acclaim, and is still considered to be a visually stunning game. Square developers worked with publishers Square Enix, Sony Computer Entertainment, and Eidos Interactive to create this historic game for PS and PC. All told, the game’s price tag was 145 million dollars twenty years ago. Accounting for inflation, the studios would have shelled out a high 216 million for Final Fantasy VII today.

While these three video games account for the most expensive video games ever developed, what about the most expensive video games ever sold? While newer games hit the shelves around the $60 price point per game, older, more vintage games can cost thousands and thousands of dollars. What makes vintage games so expensive? A few factors. First, vintage games can be expensive depending upon how many were actually published. Second, the price increases if only a few cartridges of a particular game have survived intact over the decades. Third, popularity can factor into the equation when considering the price tag of the most expensive video games on the market today. Rare Atari games top the list at the most expensive video games gamers can invest and enjoy. Have a couple of extra thousand dollars laying around? If so, you should check out some of the most expensive video games game geeks seek:

Karate

This rare game was designed for the Atari 2600. Joseph Amelio, a renowned black belt, lent his expertise on Karate to the game’s development. While history shows that two publishers ultimately released the game, only Ultravision’s version is considered to be the most valuable. Ultravision released Karate in 1982. Today, collectors will shell out upwards of $4,000 for this rare video game.

Tetris

While many gamers know that this beloved video game was released by Nintendo, not many know that Sega Genesis was set to release a version as well. Because of court cases, Nintendo ended up with sole rights to the Tetris game, leaving Sega unable to release their version. However, industry insiders did confirm that Sega’s unlicensed version was produced. Finding a copy of the unlicensed version of Tetris could set a gamer back upwards of $10,000 or more; experts estimate that only 10 copies are still in existence today.

Atlantis II

This game, developed for the Atari 2600, builds the on the popular Atlantis video game. The sequel offers more involved gameplay than the original. Once upon a time, gamers competed in the “Defend Atlantis” competition; the company sent the top scorers copies of Atlantis II. Today, copies of Atlantis II are very rare; gaming experts expect that finding a copy of this video game could cost just under $20,000.

1990 Nintendo World Championships: Gold Edition

Sometimes, gamers get all the best stuff. Nintendo created 26 copies of this exclusive cartridge for the winners and runners up who participated in Nintendo’s Power contest back in 1990. The golden cartridge contained customized versions of Super Mario Brothers, Rad Racer, and one of Nintendo’s best-selling games of all time, Tetris. Because of the game’s extremely limited edition, and rare appearance at auction, experts estimate its worth upwards of $15,000.Video games and college life go hand in hand. But like any other temptation, it’s good to set some type of schedule when trying to balance completing classwork and playing video games. While tempting to unwind after a stressful day by playing video games, make sure you’ve completed homework or studied for any upcoming tests or quizzes first. Want to make that information stick better? Then try some music for studying! Some video games may offer the soothing sounds the brain prefers for absorbing important information.

Remember: If you have a game that meets the brain’s music standards for studying, put it on in the background, get your studying down, and then reward yourself for doing the work first.